Standards for Classification: Land Use Assessment

Overview

  • The State Land Evaluation Advisory Council (SLEAC) publishes the Standards for Classification (PDF) as required by the Code of Virginia Section 58.1-3236.
  •  It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that the property meets the qualifying criteria.
  •  Below is a summary of the standards for each classification.

Forestry

  • To qualify for this category, the property must be a minimum of 20 acres and must meet the standards for productive forestland or nonproductive forestland.
  • Productive forestland is a commercial forest crop that is physically accessible for harvesting when mature. 
  • Nonproductive forest land is not capable of growing a crop of commercial wood because of inaccessibility or adverse site conditions such as steep outcrops of rock, shallow soil on steep mountainsides, excessive steepness or other conditions that prohibit the growth and harvesting of a crop of trees suitable for commercial use.
  • The owner shall certify that the real estate is being used in a planned program of timber management and soil conservation practices. Certification of intent by the owner can be shown by submitting a plan prepared by a professional forester - a Forestry Management Plan.

Open Space

To qualify for open space, the use must be consistent with the land use plan of the county. In general, the real estate must be subject to a perpetual conservation, historic or open space easement held by a public body; be part of an agricultural or forestal district (AFD) approved by local government with a recorded commitment entered into with the governing body.

  • Achievement of Comprehensive Planning and Community Development Goals - Must be at least twenty acres in size, excluding house site; be protected by a permanent open space easement, scenic easement or be located in an agricultural or forestal district (AFD). Rural village and rural hamlet conservancy lots protected by permanent open space easements may qualify when they are at least five acres in size.
  • Historic Resource Protection - Must be at least five acres, excluding house site; be listed as an historic property or a contributing property in an historic district on the Virginia Landmarks Register or the National Register of Historic places; and be subject to a perpetual scenic, historic or open space easement or a seven-to-ten-year recorded commitment with the county.
  • Scenic Resource Protection - Must be at least five acres in size, excluding house site; be contiguous to (as defined by the Code of Virginia) a scenic by-way with at least 300 foot frontage or to a scenic river; be subject to a perpetual open space easement or a seven-to-ten-year recorded commitment with the county.
  • Protection of Farmland for Future Agricultural Use - Must be at least 20 acres in size excluding house site; be located in a rural area as defined by the County Comprehensive Plan. The owner must file and implement a management plan approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District. The property must be mowed at least twice a year to control noxious weeds and the owner must use applicable "best management" plans. There must be a minimum ten-year open space commitment to the county.

Agricultural & Horticultural

  • To qualify, the property must be at least five acres in size, excluding house site. 
  • The property must be committed to the bona fide production for commercial sale of plants or animals, or to the production of plant or animal products useful to man. Generally accepted products include livestock, dairy, poultry, aquaculture, nursery product, greenhouse products, flowers, plants, orchards and vineyards. 
  • Minimum animal units are listed in the Standards for Classification (PDF)